ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has declared the Sindh High Court’s order to block the identity card to implement the court’s decision illegal.

Justice Muneeb Akhtar issued a 3-page written judgment, in which it has been said that the identity card is not a luxury but a basic necessity for leading a normal life.

The court remarked that will the courts order the disconnection of electricity and water connections even for the refund of money tomorrow? The judgment said that depriving a citizen of his identity card is tantamount to taking away the fundamental right to life.

The Supreme Court ruled that there is no scope for blocking the identity card under Section 51 of the Civil Code. The amendment made by the Peshawar High Court in the CPC does not apply to the province of Sindh. The court clarified that no court can block the identity card of a citizen without an express order in the law.

According to the judgment, in 2016, the trial court had issued a decree for payment of money against the petitioner. The trial court had ordered the blocking of the petitioner’s identity card for non-payment of the amount, which was upheld by the Sindh High Court, however, the Supreme Court declared this move illegal.

It should be noted that a title was issued against the petitioner in a property case and the petitioner was directed to deposit the stipulated amount.